Community pitches in at ‘Spring into Giving’ event

Mar 27, 2021

The Wareham Village Association, Wareham Schools Transportation Department and the Wareham Public Schools teamed up on Saturday to collect a variety of goods to be donated to Turning Point, a town organization that helps the homeless and near-homeless.

Each December, the schools run a stuff-a-bus drive to collect gifts for kids in need.

Tracy McGraw of the Village Association said that in the fall and winter, people are more aware of the needs of their neighbors through Thanksgiving food drives and Christmas donation drives.

“In the spring and summer, people still need stuff,” she said.

McGraw, who works at the Middle School in addition to running Bladez Hair Salon, said she and her colleagues agreed that the community would support the effort.

“We’ve got enough friends, we’ve got enough help,” McGraw said.

And the community came through with donations of goods, food, and cash — filling up a school bus and “our hearts,” McGraw said.

A school bus parked near the Wareham Fire Station on Main Street quickly accumulated donated goods.

Lori Ellis, a bus driver who helped with the drive, said that the items requested for the drive were “all the stuff that we take for granted” but can be hard to afford or get from food banks.

Those items included cleaning supplies, toiletries, diapers, soap, toilet paper, and canned goods.

McGraw said that people who would like to contribute can drop items off at Bladez Hair Salon at 245 High Street, and she will make sure those donations get to organizations that can use them. McGraw can be contacted at 508-295-5252.

The groups plan to make the “Spring into Giving” event annual.